Racking means for knitting machine



y 1958 F. c. WIESINGER ET AL 2,835,119

RACKING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1955 INVENTOR. FREDERICK C. Wrzsmesa By THOMAS C. LYSTER.

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A TTORNE Y May 20, 1958 F. c. WIESINGER ET AL 2,335,119

RACKIZIIG MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 7 if 1 25k I 26 74 I/SYIG 722 19 91 90122 u 77 I21 120 I V100 H| 57 5e I $31 1 02 f? I //J[ 61 V i" *1 Nos 104105 5 I Q I 1 I v Hu s 24 2 Fizzosalcs al yz ifi esa I THOMAS C. LYSTER A TTORNE Y May 20, 1958 F. c. WIESINGER ET AL 2,835,119

RACKING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. FREDERICK C. WIESINGER By THOMAS C. Lvs'rzz A TTORNE Y May 20, 1958 F. c. WIESINGER ET AL RACKING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 5, 1955 INVEN TOR. FREDERJCK C. WlESINGER By THOMQS C. LYs'rsR. 5 AQ/QW I A TTORNEY y 1958 F. c. WIESINGER ET AL 2,835,119

BACKING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 5, 1955 INVENTO DERICK C.Wa:sm

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FIE-E BY THO W7 United StatesPatentO RACKING MEANS non KNITTING MACHINE Frederick C. Wiesinger and Thomas C. Lyster, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Wildman Jacquard (30., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 519,984

18 Claims. (Cl. 56-426) This invention relates to knitting machines, and more specifically, to novel means for racking one needle bed of such machines relatively to the other.

It is a general object of the invention to devise means for racking one bed of a knitting machine relatively to the other under selective control and preferably through selected instrumentalities such as needles, jacks and the like.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a racking control for such machines which may function selectively at desired points in the knitting cycle and in which the racking movement may be controlled as to its extent.

Another object is that of providing a racking means and a. selective control thereof which shall function froma predetermined one or ones of the knitting instrumentalities, preferably, from the butts thereof.

A more specific object is that of devising a racking means which makes possible a cycle of one or more racking movements in one direction and then one or a plurality in the opposite, and for controlling it through a selecting means including the action of certain of the knitting instrumentalities for initiating the periodic functioning thereof.

Another object is that of providing means in a dial and cylinder type knitting machine for racking the dial and for controlling that racking function through a means set into motion selectively by the action of butts of selected instrumentalities such as needles or jacks efiective upon a releasing means adapted to start the cycle of the racking parts.

Other objects will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

Knitting machines of the multi-bed type such as dial and cylinder machines frequently are provided with means to rack or shog one bed relatively to the other so as to vary the relationship of the needles of one to the other at desired times. For example, the dial is most often the bed to be moved and it may be advanced or retarded (considering the direction of knitting) for a space of a needle or needles, or at times, for a fraction of. the space between needles. The distance moved or extent of the rack depends upon the function to which it is incidental, for example, a bed may be racked for purposes of bringing needles to which or from which loops are to be transferred into a desired alignment or relationship to needles of the other cooperating bed, may be racked to facilitate the knitting or ornamental r run-resist type materials, or for assisting in the fashioning of a fabric produced by circular, independent needle knitting.

For the most part racking has been done with the object in view of affecting all or .a great number of the stitches on the needles of a bed so that a racking movement becomes one incidental to preparation for a function to involve at least a revolution of the machine. Such functions do not occur frequently, for example, in knitting a'sweater a transfer from cylinder to dial needles may be required only once for each unit knitted, so that the control for racking may be relatively simple and usually involves ample time in which to prepare for the function and to control by a simple pattern means such parts as a need be differently positioned at that time. Such racking does not vary from one cycle to another and frequently is confined to a single direction of movement, or at most, involves nothing more than simple movements of.like extent, first in one direction and then in the opposite.

According to the invention, mechanism is provided by which so-called variable racking may be accomplished under control of a selecting means, preferably one acting through needle butts, jack butts or other instrumentalities passing in relative movement through knitting and other cams. The mechanism involved comprises a releasable means adapted to move through a cycle when released. This mechanism is cocked or set for action automatically at each functioning, and release is accomplished at any desired point during a revolution of the cam cylinder or needle beds, as the case may be. The racking may be performed more than once per revolution of the machine and the extent of the movements so controlled as to conform to a particular pattern for a number of courses constituting a cycle.

Briefly, this mechanism includes a single revolution clutch or other means constantly in readiness to drive a cam member from which the racking motion is taken. It also drives a resetting means for other parts which function to release the single revolution clutch. This releasing means is under control of a cam-latch assembly moved by butts on selected needles or other instrumentalities, the identity of which is dependant upon a pattern selection and which may thus vary from one course of knitting to another.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through part of a knitting machine to which the invention has been applied.

( Fig. 1a is a development of meet the control cams.

" Fig. 2 is a section of part of the mechanism of Fig. l to a larger scale.

'Fig. 3 is a similar section of certain of the mechanism at the upper part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of tripping and resetting members.

Fig. 5 is adevelopment of cams effective on being engaged by knitting instrumentalities to release a latch to initiate a racking cycle.

Fig. 6 is a sectionjthrough releasing means for single revolution clutch.

Fig. 7 is a section at line 77, Fig. 1, and showing resetting means.

Fig. 8 is a section at line 88, Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a section at line 9-9, Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a section at line 1010, Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a plan View of the rack control cam and as-' sociated parts. Now referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the invention is shown more or less in its entirety and is applied to a dial and cylinder knitting machine such as that shown in United States Patent 2,082,127, although it is to be understood that the invention is by no means limited to this particular machine or to dial and cylinder machines. Here a cylinder 20 and dial 21 carry in operable, cooperative relationship cylinder and dial needles 22 and 23, preferably of latch type. A cam ring 24 is rotatable while cylinder 20 is stationary, but it is to be understood that the relationship may be reversed as is well known by those conversant with this art. The ring 24 has fixed thereto a plate 25 and upper cam structure 26, the functions of which will be explained later.

Dial 21 is fixed to dial hub 27 pinned to dial shaft 28 axially located at its top end by an adjusting nut 29. This the immediate control'cornprisesta shaft hub. carried on a bearing 31 and. having a flange 32. This latter is bolted to an inner dogslide ring 33. A dog slide ring. 34

is in turn under control of racking mechanism'to be described and movements imparted to that ring are carried through to the dial by its interconnection to inner ring 33,. flange 32, hub 30 and dog connections to a holding collar to be described.

The hub 30 and flange 32 upon which the nut 29 bears and within which shaft 28 is guided is adjustably connected by dog means 35 to a collar 36 pinnedrto the shaft. Thus it is only when inner dog ring 33 and'the hub are moved by the racking'means that the position of the dial can be changed.

Dial needles are under the influence of appropriate dial cams (not shown) but which are mounted in a cam plate 37 fixed to hub 38 borne on the outer part of dial hub 27. This dial cam plate assembly is rotated with the cylinder cams by means including posts P, spider or crowfoot 39, the hub 40 of which forms a guide bearing at shaft 28. A slotted plate or dog41 or other connection ties plate 37 to one of the posts P for rotation therewith.

This illustration relates to a rotary cam knitting machine and, of course, the yarn supply must also rotate. To do that use is made of the dogless mechanism well known in the art and which need not be described in any great detail herein. Patents 1,891,956 and 2,082,127 show full details of such devices.

Here inner and outer dog rings are separated by a yarn guide ring 42 held in place by a clamp ring 42 and driven by the usual interconnecting means from rotary ring 43. The latter is borne in a suitable bearing in part of the fixed structure and, in turn, supports hearing 31. A post 44 threaded into one of the arms of spider 39 engages in adjustable driving dog 45, bolted or otherwise attached to ring 43 carries the drive upto the rotary parts of the dogless mechanism.

Thread guiding holes or tubes lead down through the rings 42 and 43 at spaced intervals and the inner and outer rings although widely separated, are forcedto fimction as a unit since they are slotted and a number of dogs D slidable in these radially aligning slots serve: to connect the two rings 33 and 34 at all times, but permit the yarns passing downwardly to rotate about the machine with cams and feeders. The dogs have followers F which run in tracks between cams C fixed'in element 43. A wave of motion for the dogs is so designed as to withdraw them into the ring 33 as yarns are moved past them, however, there are always a number of dogs maintaining the dog rings in their intended relationship. Whenever a racking movement is made, the outer ring 34 is moved angularly and through the dogless means inner ring 33 and the shaft and dial are also moved to the same angular extent.

Motive power for racking is preferably derived from a single revolution clutch or other means adapted to impart a given angular movement to the racking means when released. Here such a clutch of the type manufactured by the Hilliard Corp., Elmira, New York, or equivalent may be used. This clutch has a constantly rotating part 46 and a selectively rotatable member 47. While this particular single revolution means is given by way of example, others may be used.

Clutch part is freely rotatable on a bushing on shaft 48 and has keyed to it a gear 49. A similar gear 50 fixed to the upper end of a shaft 51 is rotatable in antifriction or other bearings 52 and 53. The upper hearing is retained in a casting or other support member 54 fixed as a rigid part of the machine frame. The lower of these bearingsis retainedin, arecessinbed 55, another fixed part of the machine frame structure. Shaft 51 is continuously rotated when the knitting machine is in operation since a gear 56 keyed to its lower end meshes with teeth cut in the periphery of rotating plate 25. A cover plate 57 overlies the gear 56 and the outer portion of toothed plate 25.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 3, l0 and 11, that part of the device active to rack the dial once the indication for a racking motion has been received, will be described. For purposes of this part of the description, it will be assumed that an indication or selection for a racking movement has been received and that the single revolution clutch has been released.

The driven member 47 of that clutch is keyed to shaft 48 and so rotates that shaft a single revolution within its bearings 58 and 59 retained in recesses in a part of the bracket or support 54. The sheft has fixed at its upper end a part of a Geneva motion which includes a drive disk 60, pin 61 and rosette stop 62.

The other element in the Geneva motion, the rosette wheel 63, is fixed to the upper end of a shaft 64 home in bearings 65 and 66 in bracket 54. A racking cam itself in the form of a grooved plate 67 is fixed for rotation with the rosette wheel and the groove contour 68 is such as to impart a plurality of racking motions either to right or to left, the number of which included in a cycle depends upon the number of motions provided to rotate the rosette wheel a single revolution. Here by way of example there are six rosette steps and six corresponding cam sections usable before it becomes necessary to repeat. The racking control is thus effective six times at intervals as required within the complete cycle.

A bell crank having arms 69 and 70 is swingable on a pivot 71 fixed at the top of bracket 54 and carries a follower 72 depending into groove 68. The end of arm 70 is forked to straddle a block 73 pivoted on the dog slide ring 34. This bell crank is movable to either side of a neutral position to rack to the right or left, that. is,

to advance or retard the dial needles in relation to those in the cylinder. Of course, the cam may be arranged symmetrically or may provide for uneven movements.

surface of bracket 54. At the upper end an arm 751iS fixed to the sleeve while at its lower end there are fixed by key 76 a combined hub 77 having extendingtherefrom at different elevations and at the angle shown; a stop arm 78 and a trip arm 79. These arms and. the

sleeve are moved through considerable arcs-at prescribed times to release the mechanism for racking and to reset the device for a repeat of its cycle.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10, arm acts to release the clutch member 47 through a plunger 80 vertically slidable in bracket 54 and a latch 81. The latter normally engages a shoulder 82 on the clutch member and is maintained in position by spring 83. A pin 84 passing through the latch is engaged by the inclined surfaces 85 of a forked end 86 of the plunger. Movement of the latter is limited by a stop screw 87 the end of which engages in a groove 87' in the plunger.

The end 88 of the arm 75 is bevelled as shown in Fig. 6 so that as the arm is swung from the full line position of Fig. 7 to the dot-and-dash line position, it pushes upwardly on the plunger to withdraw the latch against the tension of spring 83. The clutch immediately starts its single revolution and before it has completed it, the arm 75 will have returned to permit spring 83 to force latch 81 into position to stop the clutch. This is all facilitated by the fact that the surface of the clutch part 47 preceding the shoulder 82 is progressively of lesser radius.

At the lower portion of the structure two rings are provided: first, a racking ring 89, Figs. 2 and 4, andsec- 0nd, a slide reset ring 90. Ring 89 is normally stationary l on plate 57 being suitably guided for oscillation thereon through a small angular extent and is further provided with an adjustable resetting plate 91. This plate is fixed to the racking ring by screws passing through a slot or slots. The ring also has a trip pin 92 fixed in the plate and projecting upwardly far enough to engage the trip arm 79. Ring 89 is serrated as at 93 along its entire internal periphery for a purpose to be explained.

The slide reset ring 90 is of angular cross section, Fig.

2, and is mounted for free rotation with relation to the rotary parts of the machine except for spring 94 and a stop pin 95. The spring is connected at one end to the ring and at the other to the toothed plate 25 and normally causes the ring to rotate with the plate and the remaining rotary cam structure as a shoulder 96 is maintained against pin 95. The ring is notched as shown and at the end of the notch opposite shoulder 96 is formed an inclined cam surface 97. The rim 98 of this ring is serrated as at 99.

Racking ring 89 is rotated upon a selection being made by needles or other instrumentalities. For that purpose, a slide 180 is slidable radially of the machine and is guided to be carried around with the rotary cam means, specifically by a slotted guide member 101 and other guide means. This slide is serrated at its outer end to engage the correspondingly formed ring serrations and has intermediate its ends a reset pin 102. It is urged radially outwardly by spring 103 carried in a slot in the'slide body and abutting against a stop 104 set into a recess in plate 25. r

The slide has adjacent its inner end a raised part or boss 105 and an indentation 106. It may be held, as will be explained, against movement radially outwardly by either the boss 105 or the indentation. 1

A post 107 is guided for vertical sliding motion in the cam ring 26 and is formed with a reduced end 108 to enter indentation 106 and latch the slide in inactive position. A spring 109 held in place by cap 110 urges the post downwardly. The post also carries at its upper end a cam 111 attached by screw 112. As shown inFig. 5, a schematic view, cam 111 is normally held with its point 113 in contact with transfer cam 114. The latter as well as cams 115 and 116 form part of a complement of cylinder needle cams the details and function of which need not be described further here.

A pin 117, Figs. la and 2, fixed adjacent the lower end of post 107 is engaged by raising formations 118 on a cam 119 rotatable on shouldered stud 120 threaded into ring 26. A turning disk or star wheel 121 is fixed to the'top of earn 119 and is engageable by a bar 122 pattern controlled by any suitable means for that purpose.

The cam also has a plurality of depending studs 123 positioned to engage the boss 105 on the slide for the purpose of retaining the slide in withdrawn position even though the post and latch 108 are raised. At times the needle butts or at least a relatively great number of them, are passed over cam 114 when it is not desired to trip the slide nor is it advisable to have butts act against cam 111 except for the express purpose for which that cam is intended.

By control of the bar 122 in a known manner, the cam 119 is rotated first to bring one of the studs 123 into position in front of the boss 105, then further movement raises follower 117 to the top of one of the cam raising formations 118 thus elevating the cam to a position to clear passing butts. The latch is then withdrawn, but the slide may not move so long as a stud 123 is in blocking position.

When the cycle approaches a point where racking through the slide control is anticipated, cam 119 is advanced by bar 122 engaging star wheel 121 and pin 117 first drops from cam formation 118 and then the stud 123 is moved out of the path of boss 105.

Release of the slide is effective to engage the serrations on it with those on the racking ring 89 and, since the slide is being carried around with the rotary parts of the machine, it carries the ring with it. As the ring is rotated the trip pin 92 engages a surface 124 more or less oblique to the general direction of length of trip arm 79 and swings that arm and also sleeve 74 for about 45, more or less. At the upper end of the sleeve, the arm 75 swings correspondingly so that bevelled part 88, Figs. 6 and 7, presses plunger upwardly to withdraw latch 81 and release the single revolution clutch.

Along with the rack initiating function just described, the rotation of the sleeve also moves stop arm 78, further shown in Figs. 8 and 9, until its serrated end 125 engages the serrations 99 on the resetting ring. This arm fixed to the sleeve has a spring pressed end member 126 slidable in a slot in the arm end and retained in place by a cover plate 127 for the slot, and a pin 128 fixed in the plate and arm and passing through a slot 129 in the member. A spring 130 urges the latter radially outwardly of the arm. This member is serrated as above stated. Thus mounted, the arm end is resilient and takes the shock of engagement with ring 90 and permits easier retraction therefrom.

Actually the clutch 47 will have been released before this arm 78 makes contact with the resetting ring. When it does, since ring 89 is still moving as is the ring 90 also, the spring 130 permits the end member 126 to be pushed into the arm slightly, but the almost immediate and desired effect is to stop ring 90 elongating spring 94 whereupon cam surface 97 affects pin 102 and returns the slide 108 upwardly until latched by latch 108. The post will have been lowered by that time and merely rides up the inclined end of the slide to enter indentation 106. The result is that ring 89 is released and the trip and resetting arms, sleeve '74 and arm 75 are ready to be returned to inactive position along with ring 89.

That is accomplished by a resetting cam 131 fixed to the lower end of shaft 48, Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 10. The arm 75 has other functions than those above noted. It is slotted as at 132 for reception of a pin 133 at one end of a lever 134 pivoted at 135 to bracket 54 and having intermediate its ends a follower 136. The latter engages within a cam groove 137 in the cam plate. As the single revolution clutch is released, the motion of arm 75, swings lever 134 and follower 136 so the latter takes a position 136' at the inner part of the cam path. It is to be noted begin to rotate, follower 136 will enter the more restricted v part of the groove which is formed to advance the tripping mechanism still farther to force serrated end 125 into contact with stop ring 90. Once the slide starts to be retracted, the groove 137 takes control and the remainder of the single revolution resets all parts.

First the lever 134 swings arm 75 well past its rest position, Fig. 7, and the trip arm returns ring 89 to its original position. The arm 79 first works "against pin 92 and then a depending stud 138 at the arm end functions against the edge 139 of resetting plate 91 to push the ring back to its original or starting position. That occurs at about the point in the rotation of cam 131 and further rotation merely retracts the parts to their starting or inactive relationship.

One practical limitation on the racking control so far described is that of the number of instrumentality butts which may pass through beneath cam 111 at any one racking movement. Since the single revolution clutch operates quickly and since the resetting part of the cycle normally occurs very quickly after the release of the clutch, post 107 should be lowered in order to be ready to latch the slide when it is returned to the position of Fig. 2. By way of example, about ten to twelve needles or other instrumentalities may pass through within the time period for which the cycle is intended.

For the usual transfers involving more or less the entire complement of instrumentalities or other cycles not limited to. a relatively few instrumentalities, the regular control for. the racking means as described in the patents above noted may be used, but is connected to function through the device herein described, that is, by releasing the single revolution clutch and through the parts controlled by it. For that purpose a controller unit as shown in Fig. 2 and other figures of Patent No. 2,082,127 and functioning upon vertical link 123 therein may be connected to press upwardly on plunger 80. The controller unit then performs the same function as cam 88; it functions through a vertical link the top of which is shown at 140, Fig. 6. When racking in this manner, the post 107 is raised by the cam 119, but the slide is held so that there is no releasing of the parts through the slide, etc., although, since the shaft 48 rotates there is an idle motion of some parts.

In practice, a certain number of racking motions may be under control of the instrumentalities working on cam 111 while others are initiated by the controller unit which has been used for the purpose heretofore. Generally speaking, these are divided into racking movements involving all or a great number of needles, etc., and those which are associated with only a few instrumentalities in which event several such racking steps may be made in a single revolution ofthe machine and also, the instrumentalities involved may be selectively controlled and intentionally varied from course to course or otherwise.

To review the operation, it is assumed that all parts are set as in Fig. 1 and that a needle butt or butts enter between cams 111 and 114. These needles may have been caused to take such path as a result of being elevated by their jacks which are pattern controlled in any known manner. Cam 111 and with it, post 107, are raised thereby releasing slide 100 so that serrations at its end are engaged with those on ring 89. The ring immediately starts to be carried around with the rotary part of the machine and pin 92 engaging arm 79 swings that arm and sleeve 74 clockwise to force cam 88 beneath plunger 80 raising it and withdrawing latch 81 to release the single revolution clutch.

The rotation of the clutch as a unit rotates shaft 48 thereby moving rack cam 67 one-sixth of a revolution to move ring 34 to the right or left as the cam may dictate. Ring 34 affects the dial through means described and shown in Fig. 1.

While shaft 48 makes its revolution, resetting cam 131 acts first to pull the end 126 of arm 78 into contact with resetting ring 90, then pushes arm 134 reversely to swing arm 75, sleeve 74 and arm 79 counterclockwise, Fig. 4, to reset ring 89. It also withdraws end 126 of arm 78 from resetting ring 90 and then in the last half revolution, approximately, returns the parts to a neutral or inactive position.

When ring 90 pushes slide 100 inwardly the latch 108 rides up an incline at the slide end and then snaps into indentation 106.

If it is desired to withdraw cam 111 from a position to be affected by butts passing up cam 114, the star wheel 121 is struck by bar 122 and earn 119 rotated to interpose a stud 123 in front of boss 105 and then to raise the post 107. The cam, post and latch are returned by a second contact of bar 122 with the star wheel. Thus there are twice as many notches in star wheel 121 as there are studs 123. On the return the post drops to latch the slide first; then the stud 123 is removed from blocking position.

It is possible by means of this mechanism to rack several times in a revolution and, according to the cam contour, these racking movements may be right or left in any required sequence. By providing more steps in the cam, for example, ten instead of six, at greater number of racks is provided before it is necessary to repeat the cycle.

While one scheme for transmitting the racking to the dial has been shown here, others may be utilized and thus the novel means herein described and claimed applies to virtually all knitters of the independent needle, multi-bed type.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed, and means under the control of a knitting instrumentality for initiating said racking function.

2. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a releasable means movable through a predetermined cycle, and means for releasing said means to start its cycle which includes a member responsive to selective action by certain of the knitting instrumentalities carried by one of the beds.

3. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a releasable means movable through a predetermined cycle, and means for releasing said means to start its cycle which includes a member movable by butts of selected knitting instrumentalities carried by one of the beds.

4. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which in cludes a releasable means movable through a predetermined cycle, and means for releasing said means to start its cycle which includes a cam and connected means movable by butts of selected needles carried by one of the beds.

5. In a multibed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized means capable of rotation for a definite angular extent upon release and means connected thereto for imparting its motion to one of the beds for displacing it angularly in its relationship to the other, and means for releasing said rotatable means which includes a member responsive to a selected knitting instrumentality.

6. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a member responsive to a selected knitting instrumentality.

7. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a cam and connected means movable by butts of selected needles carried by one of the beds.

8. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a latching means, means to trip said latching means and means for setting said tripping means into action which comprises a means effective in response to selective action of certain of the knitting instrumentalities carried by one of the beds.

9. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a latching means, angularly movable means to release and trip said latching means, and other means responsive to selective action of certain of the knitting instrumentalities carried by one of the beds and movable through a cycle for actuating said tripping means and for resetting it.

10. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a latching means, a cam arm for withdrawing said latching means, and other means for actuating said cam arm including a radially movable slide releasable in response to selective action of a knitting instrumentality and a member engaged thereby and linkage therefrom to said cam arm.

11. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized single revolution clutch and means connected to said clutch for being driven thereby to move one of the beds angularly with relationship to the other, and means for retaining inoperative and for releasing a part of said single revolution clutch which includes a latching means, a cam arm for withdrawing said latching means, and other means for actuating said cam arm including a radially movable slide releasable in response to selective action of a knitting instrumentality and a member engaged thereby and linkage therefrom to said cam arm, and other means for resetting said latching means prior to the completion of the cycle of the single revolution clutch.

12. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly inrelation to the other which comprises a swinging lever having arms one of which is connected to a bed moving member and the other of which carries a follower, a cam having a cam groove therein engaged with said follower and means for moving said cam periodically which comprises an intermittent motion, a releasable means for driving said intermittent motion and, a shaft on which said intermittent drive' means and said releasable means are carried, means for latching and unlatching said releasable means and means for resetting said latching means which includes a resetting cam carried for rotation by said shaft.

13. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other which comprises a swinging lever having arms one of which is connected to a bed moving member and the other of which carries a follower, a cam having a cam groove therein engaged with said follower and means for moving said cam periodically which comprises a Geneva motion, a shaft and means carried thereon including a constantly rotatable single revolution'means freely rotatable on said shaft, and another part of said single revolution means fixed to said shaft, Geneva motion drive means and a resetting cam also fixed to said shaft, means normally latching said part of the single revolution means fixed to the shaft against rotation, and means to release said latching means which comprises angularly movable means responsive to selective action of certain of the knitting instrumentalities carried by one of the beds.

14. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed in relation to the other bed, means under control of a knitting instrumentality for initiating said racking function, and other means operable for rendering ineffective said means under control of knitting instrumentalities.

15. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed, means including a cam under control of selected knitting instrumentalities for initiating said racking function, and other means including a member effective for removing said cam from a position to be engaged by said instrumentalities thereby to render it ineffective.

16. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed, means 'for initiating said racking function including a post, a

cam carried by said post and engaged by butts of knitting instrumentalities selected from the entire complement thereof, and other cam means under control of selective means at said knitting machine for moving said post to position the said cam beyond the range of butts passing in a pathway in which they would otherwise afiect said cam.

17. Ina multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed, means for initiating said racking function including a releasing,

means, a post, a cam carried by said post and engaged but butts of knitting instrumentalities selected from the entire complement thereof, and other means under control of pattern means for moving said post to position the said cam beyond the range of butts passing in a pathway in which they would otherwise affect said cam, and means for disabling said releasing means while said post is so moved.

18. In a multi-bed knitting machine, means for racking one bed angularly in relation to the other bed which includes a constantly energized means capable of rotation for a definite angular extent upon release and means conected thereto and operable thereby for imparting its motion to one of the beds for displacing it angularly in relation to the other bed, means for releasing said rotatable means which includes a cam engageable by selected instrumentality butts, means for removing said cam from the influence of said butts and for simultaneously disabling said means for releasing the rotatable means so that movement of the cam does not initiate a racking movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,956 Sirmay Dec. 27, 1932 

